The relationship between COVID-19 death rates and population density in Europe is surprisingly weak. While density probably does matter, it is not the most important factor affecting death rates in Europe.
If any advanced country has come close to "Zero COVID", it's Singapore. Despite recording only 36 deaths, the government has announced, "We can't eradicate" COVID-19, which will very likely "become endemic".
Since the beginning of 2021, excess deaths have been running lower – often much lower – than official COVID-19 deaths in Europe. The latter measure is now substantially overstating the pandemic's death toll.
The UK no longer has the highest Covid death rate in the world, according to data just released by Statista. We're now fifth. Sweden, which didn't lock down, is 22nd.
